Spring Lake / West Kootenays

Ah... the Lake, pure, pristine and very cold. Fed by glacier run-off and good enough to drink.

Who could not paint it, at about 4pm on a Balmy Spring Day.

After a few years of experience with the 'elusive muse' (that which inspires us into action), I have found that a painting will show up in two ways;

1- As a perfect first attempt that flows out the end of your brush without any personal intervention on the part of the artist ... some would call it inspired since it is so effortless

2- A struggling reaction to the subject matter at hand which results in a half done painting which may even 'irk' us and 'rankle' in our minds, causing us to doubt and get down on ourselves.

GOOD NEWS IS COMING!!!

Of course the most common scenario is number 2 'struggle and strive'. No pain No gain as they say...I wish they wouldn't put it that way but it does sum the artistic process up in a short pithy statement that we all try to avoid.

So here is the 'Good News'. Of all the paintings I have completed 99.9% came from number 2

So here is even 'Better News'. After embracing the "There are no mistakes in Art' maxim and really understanding what it means to me personally, I now find that all those shadowy voices of doubt and concern about 'Good Enough" have all but vanished.

Now the painting still shows up in two ways;

1- As a perfect first attempt that flows out the end of your brush without any personal intervention on the part of the artist ... some would call it inspired since it is so effortless.

2- As an extended project that is completed in the studio using sound principles of technique and design. In other words ...working at it.

BEST OF NEWS !!!

As a result of the above my average for 'The Perfect Painting' is up to 2%

START WITH A GOOD BEGINNING and YOUR ENDING WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN

Here We Are On the West Coast Getting ready for California Style Watercolor